On 12 July 1918 only ten days after the formation of the School of Music a RAF Band Played at Buckingham Palace. The Band may have been the newly formed Blandford Band or it could have been a scratch band from the School of Music which played during a luncheon. However it was certainly conducted by Bandmaster John Amers who had recently joined Music Services.

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The performance was favourably reported in The Musical Progress of August 1918 despite what must have been a very short rehearsal period. This prestigious engagement was certainly the result of the excellent reputation gained a result of being formed from already experienced musicians and could hardly have provided a more auspicious beginning for the fledgling service.

Excerpt taken from – Music in the Air by Ian Kendrick (out of print) click link for more information.

http://www.musicintheair.org.uk/raf-music-services/music-book.html